U.S. Extends Additional LNG Export Authorizations Through 2050

Yesterday the U.S. Department of Energy extended the terms of seven long-term LNG export authorizations through 2050. This follows 10 LNG export term extensions issued in October.

The term extensions issued were for:

• Golden Pass facility currently under construction in Sabine Pass, Texas.
• Texas LNG project proposed for Brownsville, Texas
• Proposed Magnolia and Driftwood projects in Louisiana
• Delfin LNG export project proposed for offshore Louisiana
  
  

Approvals also include an extended export term for Sempra Energy’s Costa Azul project in Mexico. Costa Azul recently reached a final investment decision for its mid-scale project has U.S. Department of Energy authorization to import and liquefy U.S.-sourced natural gas for export from Mexico. These issuances extend each project’s long-term LNG export authorization to non-free trade agreement countries through December 31, 2050. 

“The success story of U.S. LNG continues to be written, and these extended authorizations will ensure that the benefits from these exports continue for decades to come,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette. “The United States just set a new all-time high record for LNG exports in November 2020, and the monthly rate of LNG exports has now quintupled since the beginning of the Trump Administration.”

Long-term LNG export authorizations with export terms through 2050 are now held by 13 U.S. LNG export projects, as well as the Costa Azul project in Mexico.